CAULKER CALLS FOR FINAL DAY PERFORMANCE

Hopefully we can put a performance on for them against Chelsea and give them something to cheer about."

Steven Caulker

City defender Steven Caulker has described the Bluebirds’ relegation from the Barclays Premier League as ‘extremely difficult to take’ following Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle United.

The result at St James’ Park coupled with Sunderland’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford consigned City to the disappointment of a return to the Championship, with just the one remaining game left to play at home to Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday.

Looking to end the season on some sort of positive against the Blues, Caulker said: “We can’t point fingers, we’re a team in there and we’re all united. We know that we have to go again against Chelsea, be strong and put a performance on for the fans.

“It’s very difficult to take but after last week against Sunderland, we always knew that we may have needed some sort of miracle.

“We’ve conceded a lot of goals and we know that if we want to come back up next season then we’re going to have to tighten up defensively. We were not good enough on the pitch. We’ve got to hold our hands up and take responsibility for the way we’ve performed in too many games this season.”

1,120 City fans made the arduous trip back to the north east for a second time in a week on Saturday to support the boys as they continued their quest for survival, their vociferous support unwavered even when the final whistle blew and City’s relegation was confirmed.

Placing on record his thanks to City fans for their fantastic support throughout a difficult campaign, the England international said: “The fans have been brilliant.

“I’d like to put on record our thanks to them this season for their support, hopefully we can put a performance on for them against Chelsea and give them something to cheer about.“